Tipping-- how much?

[TwoSweetPeas]

I saw another tipping thread and realized I have my own tipping question. I’m in the northeast near a city and have boarded at pretty high end h/j barns before, but about a month ago I moved one to a really nice (also more expensive) place. I’m not doing the “full care” thing where the grooms tack / untack for me, but the guys are there long hours and definitely doing more hands-on attentive care than just mucking stalls and turning out.

Do folks who board at these barns tip the guys on a regular basis of some kind? Or just really generous tips at Christmas? Do you mind if I ask, how much?

Also for shows: this will be my first time showing with grooms, I’ve always done everything myself in the past, but the grooms at shows are part of the deal at the new barn. What to tip grooms for shows?

Would really appreciate guidance as I’m totally new to this level of care but I think the guys are great and definitely want to be thanking them appropriately.

Thank you!

[ElisLove]

I think sometimes people might give a christmas tip to barn workers, and sometimes bring coffee and/or treats. I’ve never tipped them.
Can’t help with the show grooms as I have never had a groom at shows.

[paw]

I tip home grooms at Christmas - generally $50/horse for the main groom, $20/horse for the other(s).

At shows, I do $10/day or 20% of the day fee tip to the “boss” if there are multiple grooms, whichever is more.

[Lusoluv]

I live in the midwest and board at a mid-level barn. It is NOT fancy at all, but you can get full service groom/tack-up in addition to regular board for less than $1k. About 8 people of 60 boarders use this service. I do not. We have several barns on the property and the man who cleans my barn, feeds and does turnout gets $150 from me at Christmas as a tip. Hope that helps

[bamboopole]

Our grooms get a commission with the sale of one of their horses. 1-5% depending on price. Customers may tip as they wish. We suggest 20-50 each show week (per horse), with a significant bonus for major placings. For Christmas some of our junior grooms receive great personal gifts and 100-200. The more experienced grooms can expect 4 or 5 times that, plus what we give as their employers.
One of our customers - on his own time - set up retirement accounts for each of our staff. Now they all have automatic deductions into those accounts! Better than a tip.
Another customer gives free ESL classes to staff, their families and interested customers. Priceless. Even if we are on the road.

[FreshAir]

I think it is best to ask one or two customers there what they do.

[pony_powered]

[QUOTE=FreshAir;8313038]
I think it is best to ask one or two customers there what they do.[/QUOTE]

I think this is a good idea (if you know people well enough to ask). I give my trainer cash - the cost of a lesson, and I gave the guys who do the stalls $20 each last Christmas. I was at a small barn.

[50ShadesOfHay]

I’d check with your trainer or others at the barn to see what they do, since it varies from barn to barn. But where I am currently (AA Hunter Barn), its full service (including tack/un-tack during their hours 7AM - 4PM). I tip each groom $20 a mo., at shows I tip the groom $10 per day, and we also do a Christmas Gift for the grooms and I contribute towards that as well.

[JumpHigh]

I tip the grooms at Christmas time and shows.

[TwoSweetPeas]

Thanks everyone! I will ask some fellow boarders soon for their guidance, but for now I’m still trying to remember names I started to worry around the beginning of the month, though, that maybe I’m supposed to be tipping every month, and wanted some quick input from others. So far most folks are saying they tip at Christmas and shows, so I’m not going to worry too much until I can ask around some.

[joiedevie99]

Definitely ask - at home tips around here range from $25-$100 per horse per month. I double-tip at Christmas, and tip separately at shows.

[mvspencer]

Are they hired grooms or working students? I was a working student, and my only way to get cash was to groom at shows. My boss assumed that giving my horse a stall and me a bed was enough. I spent $30 a week on food and paid for horse shoes with my savings. So if it’s a young kid who is making no money, be nice. I don’t know that the appropriate thing to do is if it is someone who is hired and paid though. They probably don’t make a lot either way, so any little thing would be appreciated.

[rennyben]

And maybe ask the trainer. Some trainers would rather you not tip monthly as it can sometimes cause problems. So I’ll bring in Starbucks and/or breakfast for everyone as an appreciation. I don’t do full service but the guys definitely help me out. And this way, too, it’s a little more personal and fun. I guess just ask what your barn does.

[In_the_Air]

My customers tip $50 a day to the groooms at the bigger shows on showing days, $20 on non showing days.